Jack track



vR. E. EVANS 1,887,924

JACK TRACK Nov. l5, 1932.

Filed DeC. 16. 1929 /8 xtmzrnxazzu) 229 l I TTORNEV Patented Nov. 15, 19.32

UNITED v*STATI-:s

PATENT Volifica.

j Horno n. EVANS, or niaronia, KANSASv l JACK' Application filed December beneath a motor car axle, particularly in the f dark or When a bumper extends a substantial l distance in front ofthe axle. Further objects of my invention therefore are to assure location of a jack in correct operating position beneath an axle.

Installation of a jack is troublesome and l proper operation of the jack is uncertain, When the soilat the jack position is soft or rough, and further objects of my invention therefore are to support a jack firmly on soft or rough ground and to facilitate the installation of a jack in functioning position on irregular or soft ground.

`Guides and base members for jacks have sometimes been provided, which are cumbersome and not easily handledor stored in auc tomobiles. Further objects of my invention therefore are to reduce the bulk and weight of a jack support, and to facilitate manipulation of a collapsible support for use or storage. o o j In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms 'of Which are illustrated in theA accompanying drawing, wherein:

portion of an automobile and my improved jack support installed under the rear axle and illustrated as supporting a jack, parts of the automobile being broken away to better T illustrate the operation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section `of the jack support in extended position.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line-3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line Lf-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the support when collapsed. Y j

Referring in detail to the drawing: 1 designates a member to be engaged by 5G the lifting shaft of a jack, and is illustrated Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear- TRACK p 16, 1929. seal 116415424.

as `*the rear axlefof an automobiledesignated n 2 having a Wheel 3 and a rear bumper 4,

' A jack 5 of ordinary construction 'includ-A Ving a standard 6;;and a plate-lilrebase 7,.'-a lifting shaft 8 having a head 9, and alever `arm 10, may beA installed directly belowthe axle for elevating the Wheel from the ground. The lever of a jack of this character is Vadapted to receive a handle 11 which may extend beyond the bumper and thus bexeasily accessible for roperating thejack. Y 'a My invention comprises a guide or base 12 adapted to lie on the ground andv serve as a track or chute on which the jack maybe mounted and moved and comprises a plurality of channel-like telescoping sections 13;, 14 and 15 having suiicient length When extended to project beneath'the axleand outwardly beyond ,thebumperx` Y y The ,inner` end section ably of relatively heavyl sheet metal.y and the sections 14 `and 15v are formed of lighter sheets. The 4sections includeside ianges 16 and inwardly extending keeper flanges 17 on the upper .edgesfof the side flanges.'

`Longitudinal slots 18' and 19 `formed respectively inthe sections 1 3 and l5 receive pairs of o pins 2O and 21 projecting laterally from the anges. of the middle section 14, whereby theV endsections'are retained in engagement With of nesting relation therewith. I M .Attention is called tothe diminishing cross the middle section and may slideinto and out sectionand increasing length of the sections from `the end section 13V to the opposite end section 15,` andthe factvthat the/section v15 slides in and on the section 1 4, while thesection 14 slidesin andon the section 13.

' The..end section 1 3 comprises a supporting orfooting. member for retaining the jack in operating position, and isprovided with a ystop member 22 adapted to effect location of the jack inacentral position thereon, to cause the Weight of the car-'supporting jack to be distributed' substantially equally in all directionsover the ground surface. The mem# ber 22 preferably comprises a cross bar hav ing depending pins V23 at each yend adapted for insertion inselected; openings 24in1 the keepenfianges of the section.

A chain 25 attached to the bar is connected to a rear end Wall 26 comprising an extended and upturned portion of the bottom of the section, for retaining the bar with the section.

The lower edge of the end wall 26 at its joint with the bottom is curved to facilitate sliding movement of the track along .the ground.

The sizes and shapes of jack standards vary, and to'accommodate a particular jack, the bar pins are inserted in selected openings to position the bar so that the jack will be stopped by the bar in such a position that the weight will be applied substantially centrally to the bottom of the section 13.

Vhen the jack is to be used the track-is extended, andthis may easily be accomplished by grasping the outer end section 15 by extending the fingers through an opening 27 formed in the forward end of the section and permitting the other sections Ato move away by gravity.

Thea-extended track is introduced under the end of the automobile and laid on the ground, the operator effecting the location of the inner end section 13 beneath the axle by observing .the position of the axle.

` rThe jack -isthen mounted `on the outer section 15 of the track, the plate base 7 being insertedV in thegrooves formed by the side and keeper flanges, the standard projecting upwardly and being freely movable-'between the edges ofthe keeper'flanges. l

The jack is then moved slidalclyl along the the road slab to soft dirt for replacing a tire.

Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A jack track comprising a footing member having vertical integral edge flanges provided with longitudinal slots and keeper flanges extending inwardly from said vertical flanges and provided with a plurality `of `pairs of apertures, a stop member comprising a bar having lugs receivable in a selected `pair of said apertures of said keeper flanges, a guide member comprising a plate having integral upturned horizontal edge portions and flanges extending inwardly from said portions, and lugs projecting later- -alfly from said upturned portions and "oper- Y ating in said `slots for movably connecting the guide 'member lto the footing member.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

' ROLLO E. EVANS.

track, until stopped `by the bar `22, and is thus `suitably located to engage the axle.v p

l The lever handle may be lemployed for shifting the jack along the track, whereby troublesome stooping vand reaching to locate the jack beneath 'the axle are avoided.

l/Vhen the vuse of the jack vis finished, the

jack and track `may be 'removed separately or together.

The track may then be telescoped for st'orage in the tool box of 'the automobile. Attention is called to the fixed relation between the jack position on' the inner endsection and selected positions on the track, and a point may be designated'onjthe track which would register ywith a fixed point on the automobile, for example the edge of the'bump'er, when the' inner end section is properly located beneath the axle to receive ithe jack.

\ The user may therefore locate thetrack -in the dark, by relating the selected point on the track with the suitable point on the automobile, and thus avoid troublesome efforts to `discover the position on the ground at which the jack should'be installed.

The device is therefore useful for facilitating location of the jack, whatever the nature of the surface on which the :automobile stands, and isuseful for supporting the jack Y when the road is soft orirregular, .or when the motorist must move the automobile from 

